Derwen College...the place of possibility!
We currently have an opportunity for a full-time Student Services Practitioner
This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference by promoting student wellbeing, safeguarding, behaviour support, and positive student engagement in a fast-paced and rewarding environment,
This role will be: | Monday to Friday | 08:45am-4:30pm | 46-week contract (Term Time) Occassional evening and weekend work may be required.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a key point of contact for students seeking support, guidance or information, responding appropriately to concerns raised.
- Build positive, respectful and professional relationships with students, ensuring support is responsive to individual needs.
- Promote student voice, independence and self-advocacy, ensuring students feel listened to, valued and supported.
- Provide guidance and support to students around online safety and the safe and appropriate use of technology.
- Be an active member of the Safeguarding Team and contribute to the safeguarding, welfare and wellbeing of students.
- Monitor, review and audit incident records to ensure accurate and high-quality recording, appropriate follow-up and clear outcomes.
- Undertake initial information gathering or fact-finding where appropriate and in line with safeguarding procedures, ensuring relevant information is shared with appropriate colleagues.
- Analyse incident and concern information to identify recurring or emerging themes, patterns and opportunities for preventative or proactive support.
- Act as a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Coach, or work towards becoming a PBS Coach, providing coaching and support to students and staff and contributing to the development of PBS practice across the College.
- Attend safeguarding, student services and multi-disciplinary meetings as required and support student meetings where appropriate.
- Work collaboratively with the Learner Voice Lead to support learner voice activities, student events and wider College activities.
- Contribute to the effective operation of the Student Helpdesk, providing cover as required, including responding to telephone and radio messages, supporting students to attend sessions and ensuring they are appropriately accounted for.
- Support the coordination of the missing student procedure where a student’s whereabouts cannot be established.
- Support students during unstructured times, including breaks and lunchtimes, and during transitions where additional guidance or reassurance is required.
- Work collaboratively with teams across the College to ensure a coordinated approach to student wellbeing, safety and support.
- Liaise with parents, carers, social workers and other professionals where appropriate.
Person Specification
Essential
- Caring, compassionate and empathetic approach with a strong commitment to supporting students.
- Experience of working in a pastoral, student support, safeguarding or similar role.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, colleagues and professionals.
- Understanding of safeguarding and the importance of timely reporting, recording, escalation and follow-up.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise, monitor actions and manage a varied workload.
- Good attention to detail, with the ability to review records and information accurately, identify required actions and support effective follow-up.
- Ability to remain calm and professional when responding to incidents, concerns or challenging or sensitive situations.
- Willingness and ability to undertake training and work towards becoming a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Coach.
- Competent in Microsoft Office and relevant IT systems.
- Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of students and the College, including occasional work outside normal College hours.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a specialist education or care setting.
- Experience of, or willingness to undertake further training in, communicating effectively with people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including the use of Makaton and other appropriate communication approaches.
- Experience or knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), including experience as a PBS Coach.
- Experience or knowledge of safeguarding and online safety.
Work Location: In person
